It isn't for me to say if the legendary Avalon existed literally or figuratively, but Avalon, or "the island of apples" was located for some at Glastonbury in Somerset, England. Certainly there is magic in the sight of the serene countryside, gently grazing farm animals, stone walls and weathered wooden gates - not to mention the many apple trees growing amply and fruitfully in fields alongside the path to Glastonbury Tor.

Legend tells that the numerous wild apple trees of Avalon needed no cultivating to grow and gave fruit endlessly - contributing to an easy lifestyle for its happy inhabitants! I have found that nature provides everything spontaneously for our own apple trees to flourish and thrive.

If you want a little of the magic of Avalon in your own backyard - why not consider planting an apple tree or two? There are many varieties that need very little space to grow. The benefits vastly outweigh the initial modest cost and labour involved -- adding beauty and oxygen to our world, blossoms for bees, hiding spots for birds, shade, compost and most importantly -- year after year of free delicious apples!

"If Jove would give the leafy bowersA queen for all their world of flowers,The rose would be the choice of Jove,And blush the queen of every grove."

The Song of the Wild Rose Fairy

I am the queen whom everybody knows;I am the English Rose;As light and free as any Jenny Wren,As dear to Englishmen;As joyous as a Robin Redbreast's tune,I scent the air of June;My buds are rosy as a baby's cheek;I have one work to speak,One word which is my secret and my song,'Tis "England, England, England" all day long.

Cicely Mary Barker, Flower Fairies of the Summer

RomeThe Ancient Romans loved roses - I mean, one emperor literally showered his guests with rose petals tumbling from the ceiling when they arrived ... and rose petals were scattered everywhere else for, well, you know, ambience ... they filled their swimming baths with rose petals, fountains with rose-water and sat of carpets of rose petals. So excessive was their desire for rose petals that the peasants had to grow roses, instead of food, in order to satisfy the demand!

A heavenly image arises for me at the thought of surrounding Roman countryside, and indeed every nook and cranny in Rome, filled with blooming roses - the scent, the sight of roses, roses, roses everywhere and all destined to arrive at the palaces and temples! It must have been an amazing sight - of course, the plebs might not have been able to see it that way ... if they went hungry as a result! Hopefully, they managed to sneak in a few rose petal salads for themselves ....

EnglandIn front of cottages or row-homes, adorning doorways and walkways, lining stone walls down country lanes, climbing arbors and arches ... and of course, in many an ornamental rose garden at carefully preserved "stately homes"; the rose is England's national flower.

We are so fortunate to have received a visit by Jack Frost himself who painted this beautiful and intricate design on an old windowpane in the Grove. Here is photographic proof of the existence of the little folk!

Where Old Man Winter can be stern and grim; Jack is all about fun. He sees the beauty in ice and snow - not the hardships that can come with them.

Just before dawn, this sprite tiptoes into gardens and looks for tree branches and blades of glass to coat with his shiny, shimmering paint. He especially loves finding an old single-paned window or other thin clear surface that he can use for a canvas.

Jack's willing to share the beauty of winter with you. Make sure you check early in the morning when his work is at its finest. If he paints an original masterpiece somewhere in your garden, stop a few moments and examine it - his work is amazing and just think, he created it just for you!

The holly and the ivy,When they are both full grown,Of all the trees that are in the wood,The holly bears the crown.O the rising of the sun,And the running of the deer,The playing of the merry organ,Sweet singing of the choir.

Portmeirion, Made in England

To me, this is such a delightfully pagan song of the Yule! Much has been written about the symbolism of this song, but for me the enchanting beauty of this verse is the magical lure outside to nature where the holly trees and ivy grow ... in the bitter bite of winter. I do love that both holly and ivy are plants that thrive "evergreen" at Christmastime. Both are such an intrinsic part of the English countryside and they harken to old-fashioned Christmas traditions ... we are lucky enough to have them growing here in the grove!

Witches' Thimbles ironically by a Witch Wood (Rowan) Tree in the Grove

Foxgloves are fairies' favourite folk flowers. Gee - that's a bit of a tongue twister! But never mind, there are so many other names to call this glorious woodland plant. Fairy's Caps or Thimbles, Goblin's or Folk's Glove, the Gloves of our Lady. Some of the names are sinister - which is not surprising since Foxgloves are very poisonous (this is where their Latin Name, Digitalis, becomes important!). Dead Men's Bells, Witches' Thimbles and Bloody Fingers are a few more names this tall, stalky fellow has attracted.

​There is definitely charm and enchantment in any garden, alley, roadway or path that is lucky enough to see this magical plant, since fairies always visit wherever it grows.

Winter Solstice is such an incredible time. The Meadow Sweet Grove fairies are abuzz with excitement! One of their favourite activities is making a Winter Solstice Tree for all the hungry little woodland creatures in the grove - this is most enjoyed by the chickadees, blue jays, juncos, woodpeckers and yes, even the squirrels.

How to make a Winter Solstice Tree

Spread some peanut butter on waxed paper, roll pine cones in peanut butter, then stand pine cone in a large bowl and pour bird seed overtop, coating nicely, wrap string around the pine cone for hanging.

Cut an orange in half and partially hollow it out, carve or punch three holes in the side near the top, insert string and tie at the top, fill with bird seeds.

Cut a hole in stale bread, bagels or crackers, tie a string, spread with congrealed bacon fat, sprinkle with bird seeds. (bacon fat helps the birds to put on their own fat for the winter - bread by itself fills them up...but leaves them cold!)​

Make a popcorn string.

Hang all these goodies on a tree with lots of lovely branches for perching, ducking and hiding, spread a little bird seed on the ground.

The Meadow Sweet Grove fairies are getting ready to deck their little halls with boughs of holly. And why not? "Deck the Halls" is such a quintessential Christmas song. There have been several different versions over time, but they all seem to fully encompass the true gaiety and spirit of the winter celebrations. The happiness and joy of being warm and snug and safe during the cold winter nights, with lots of good food and drink to share with family, friends and neighbours ... now that's a reason to celebrate!

Everything about Deck the Halls resonates joy and good spirits - decorating the home with symbols of everlasting life and passing the torch of that life along to the "lads and lasses", being happy and good-natured, rejoicing in the abundance of "more than enough to go around", and a nod to the ancientness of man's celebrations at this time of year. Even the replacement of: "Fill the mead cup, drain the barrel" with "Don we now our gay apparel" illustrates that the message was clearly understood. Yule is a time to fully enjoy the abundance you are blessed with ... whether it be with an ample amount of good drink ... or by dressing in all your finest clothes! ​

​Disclaimer: Many of my items are vintage. Please be aware that vintage items will vary with the manufacturing methods available at the time of their production. They are not made at the current standards of manufacturing ... and in my opinion, that is a good thing! They are generally an exceedingly higher quality than today's manufactured items, last much longer and have more attention to detail. However, items do also deteriorate with age and it is up to the customer to decide how they will use each product.